Prince Frederick, MD – A respected consultant presented an update on Calvert County’s ongoing economic development plan. The report presented at the Tuesday, Aug. 29 meeting of the Calvert County Commissioners by Anirban Basu of Sage Policy Group comes at a time when Calvert’s leaders are getting substantial feedback from citizens about future development and a major energy project is approaching its conclusion.
According to Department of Economic Development Direct Kelly Robertson-Slagle, Basu and his firm, “engaged in a number of contract activities, including reviewing all prior relevant economic development and planning documents, conducting in-depth economic, demographic and budgetary data analysis, developing a strength, weakness, opportunities and threat analysis.” In developing the strategy, the consultant led focus groups consisting of stakeholders. Basu told the commissioners the stakeholders participating in the three sessions “are very prominent citizens of this community.”
Among his findings, Basu reported that the major threats to sustaining economic prosperity in Calvert is a rapidly aging population, a lack of “in-migration” of younger families and workers, “smallish” town centers and uncertainty regarding future federal budgeting. He stated the millennials are “the most education generation” ever and “the future entrepreneurs and taxpayers. They are the future whether we like it or not.”
The soon-to-be-operational liquefaction unit at Dominion Cove Point Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Plant in Lusby was cited by Basu as a major opportunity for Calvert County. He indicated having a facility that exports large quantities of natural gas to the world makes the county a major player in a growing industry, will add to employment and significantly expand Calvert’s tax base.
For the next five years, Basu recommends Calvert “radically accelerate development of town centers, increase incentives for the creation of agribusiness operations and create an economic development advisory commission.
“If we don’t diversify, don’t have our town centers be what they’re designed to be, we are going to fail,” said Commissioners’ President Tom Hejl [R – At large].
Commissioners’ Vice President Evan K. Slaughenhoupt Jr. [R – District 3] opined that some of the county’s residential growth control policies first enacted almost 20 years ago when Calvert’s population was booming have likely had an adverse effect on commercial growth. Basu said town center development was the best way for Calvert to prevent sprawl.
In agreeing with the consultant that Calvert needs to encourage and incentivize rural market entrepreneurship, Commissioner Mike Hart [R – District 1] declared, “farms have got to be a major player or at least an equal player.”
In response to the concern raised by Commissioner Pat Nutter [R – District 2] about closing stores and troubled shopping centers, Basu explained, “this has been a difficult time for ‘Main Street. This will be a record year for store closings in America.” Noting that online sales have challenged retail stores, Basu told the commissioners “what you don’t want to have are empty big box stores.”
Unsurprisingly, Basu identified the Prince Frederick Town Center as a key economic development area. However, he also stated the Dunkirk Town Center had an advantageous location and significant development potential.
In a memo to the commissioners, Robertson-Slagle stated Basu’s strategic plan findings “will be incorporated into the Economic Development work program.” Additionally, the consultant facilitating the revisions to the Calvert County Comprehensive Plan will receive the report “for background and consideration.”
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com